JNI, CAN Trade Blames over Attacks on Churches

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella body for Muslims in the North, alleged Thursday that Christians were disguising as Muslims to burn down churches and indulge in terrorist activities.

But the spokesman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Mr. Sunday Oibe, in a reaction maintained that no right thinking person can insinuate that Christians will disguise as Muslims and go about bombing churches and killing people.

The JNI in a communiqué issued at the end of its three-day retreat in Kaduna also accused the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, of making unguarded statements that is heating up the polity.

The communiqué, which was signed by the Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, called on the CAN president to tell Christians to stop mischievously disguising as Muslims in perpetrate acts of terrorism, declaring that JNI could no longer tolerate this double face attitude.

The Islamic body also lamented that majority of the media establishment in the country were owned by Christian dominated South, alleging that they are always biased against Islam and Muslims.

Participants at the retreat, according to the communiqué, noted with dismay the current state of insecurity and panic in the country demonstrated by incessant violence and high spate of bombings, which had led to unfathomable loss of innocent lives and property.

The communiqué reads in part: “The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, instead of contributing positively towards achieving National cohesion has rather chosen the path of insinuation and therefore heating the polity.

“Education which is supposed to be the basic locomotive of development has unfortunately been given a secondary importance by all segments of government. Concerned authorities have in many cases failed to give convincing answers to many of the grievances of Muslims in Nigeria.

“There are so many contradictions and confusion in the way the issue of Boko Haram is handled by security agents and the media. Majority of the media establishment in the country, especially the Christian dominated southern media, have always demonstrated bias against Islam and Muslims.

“Participants condemn in totality the on-going spate of bombings and killings of guiltless Nigerians irrespective of their regional, religious or ethnic inclinations. JNI calls on Nigerians to shun violence and embrace peaceful means of settling their legitimate grievances.

“JNI urges the Federal Government to call the president of CAN to order before he causes religious crisis in the country, through his unguided utterances which has started eroding the long built mutual respect between Muslims and Christians. CAN president must stop his people to stop mischievously disguising as Muslims in perpetrating acts of terrorism.

“The meeting calls on Federal and affected state governments as well as all security agents to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the several reported cases of Christians who disguise as Muslims to burn churches. JNI can no longer tolerate this double face attitude. Thorough investigations must also be made to unveil the sponsors of those Christian terrorists.

“JNI calls on Muslims to be vigilant and always report to the authorities any case of injustice and maltreatment meted on any Muslim either by Christian extremist or bad elements among the security agents. Copies of the complaints should be sent to the state offices of JNI attached with a comprehensive report of the incidents.

“JNI reiterates its commendation to the National Assembly for their outright rejection of same sex marriage. To this end, the meeting specifically applauds some concerned legislators who have so far demonstrated concern for their people.

“JNI calls on government at all levels to pay serious attention to the development of education as no society can progress without giving education its priority. We want to remind all Christian zealots in Nigeria, that our love for peace must not be mistaken as a licence to make us second class citizens in a country where we constitute a majority.

“We condemn in strong terms all acts of terrorism perpetrated by any group in Nigeria. As we remain confused regarding whether the Boko Haram members are known by the government as clearly stated that they are in the government or there are faceless (as claimed by the NSA).

“We also call on the media to always be fair in their reporting of issues as that is the only way we can understand issues as there are and take appropriate measures to address them.

“Worried by the recurrent reported cases of abuse of fundamental human rights of Muslims of various conflict areas, JNI strongly call on all security agents to consciously do their job of protecting the lives, property and integrity of Nigerians as opposed to intimidating, harassing, and harming innocent Muslims.”

However in his reaction, the spokesman of CAN in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Oibe, described the allegation against Christians as baseless, senseless and calculated to divert attention from the real issue that is posing serious problem to the nation.

“They are trying to divert attention. Look at what is even happening in the whole of the West African sub-region.

“It is very irrational for any right thinking person to say that a Christian could disguise as a Muslim and go to throw bomb at churches and kill people in places, like Madalla, Jos, Maiduguri, Adamawa, Damaturu and other places.

“If they don’t know, let them be aware that the President of CAN speaks the mind of Nigerian Christians, particularly Christians in the North and we are solidly behind him.

“The Boko Haram Islamic sect and their sponsors are those who are heating up the polity and not the President of CAN. JNI should be ashamed of this baseless accusation.

“We urge JNI to call the Boko Haram Islamic sect to order rather than trying to divert attention on the real issues. Their allegation that Christians disguise as Muslims to bomb churches is baseless and senseless,” Oibe said.

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i am a northern christian and the kind of statements by JNI clearly shows that they are in support of the killing of Christians. No right thinking person can make this kind of statement. this people are just EVIL.

This JNI communique must be the dumbest communique of all time! So illogical and irrational, it borders on crass stupidity and mindless ignorance. Personally, I know many brilliant Northern Nigerian Muslims. May be they do not belong to JNI but if they do, they should not tolerate this level of mediocre misrepresentation of Muslims in the North.

Pastor Ayo is courageous enough to speak the truth and all those who believe in the Truth know so. The double speak and deliberate false hood being peddled by JNI is part of what we know as al-taquiyah. If it was Christians that carried out what was witnessed in Niger and Yobe against muslims , Nigeria would have been in flames! Abi na lie? But Christ didn't teach us that. Who were those that started any sort of religious crises in Nigeria? The history books are there for all to see. The truth is what sets men free. Pastor Ayo and CAN, don't ever stray from that please.

I sincerely call upon the JNI to control the actions of the boko haram sect since they know that Christians disguised their selves as Muslims to burn down churches and the killing of the innocent citizenry. But for me the assertion is baseless and nonsensical for christian to kill his follow human being talk less of his follow christian, no it is not in our diary.

Hey! Egbami o, disguising to kill fellow xtians to achieve what naa?, disguising to kill Muslims in Kano to achieve what naa?, please balance your information Mr JNI and call a spade a spade!!!!.Killing fellow human being on any disguise is unjustifiable before God no matter how you want to hide the matter!

I am totally disappointed by the statement of the so call JNI for there shameless complain about the CAN president, who was just saying christian should defend themselves and no to attract anybody. The fact still remain, Slam promote and encourage terrorism, the peace u preach is just in your lips and not from your heart. Tell us one single church that was attract by any disguised christian as u claim, but even little children can tell countless numbers of churches that were attract by the so call religion of peace.

Oibe my brother in Christ, you are blessed already.The JNI or whatever they call themselves should be mindful of their utterances either. Uncircumcised people trying to divert attention as you said. No Christian can in whatever disguise burn or throw bombs or weapon of mass destruction at Churches killing people in their hundreds let alone fellow Christians. They should be aware that they themselves are threatening the unity of this country and should be ready to stand in to take responsibility of whatever consequences would result. July 1967 should sound a great warning and rethink to them or if they want a repeat of it, should be out clearly to initiate their intent.When in the name of Boko Haram they are wasting lives and are now trying to divert the blame to who. What injustice do they or are they suffering in Nigeria, because a southerner and a Christian is now the President that is they want to distablize the country.If they are tired of Nigeria, they should own up and secede as the case may be and let us be. They have ruled this country with their Islam for over forty years; no bombing, killing, crises or even Boko Haram. And now it is a Christian, they are unrest. Are they not the infidels by their actions and reasonings? If you don't want to stay with me, you leave me. It is becoming unbearable. Lets not experience any thing stupid or barbaric any longer.

Does the JNI expect us to sympathise with their uneducated status by allowing them make such baseless statements? The responsibility of educating their people and establishing their own media networks falls on their community. If they decide that they prefer to wait for the government to provide all their needs, then they will continue to be illiterate, wallowing in their ignorance. It is astounding that this is the outcome of their 3 day meeting! Obviously, they need someone educated to help them draw up and agenda on how to move their people forward! Christians disguising themselves as Muslims?! Indeed!

We are all guilty of stereotype thinking and assumptions. Colonialism has denied us the chance to be rational. The first comment is as naive as the accusation. Those who are interested in making sure Nigeria does not grow know our weak points, one of which is religion. Such external forces can disguise as Muslims so as stoke up violence. Also before presenting the allegation to the public it is important to come along with Indisputable evidence.

JNI are clearly in support of boko haram. They are the most foolish people under heaven.They are cursed forever.. The blood of those that they have killed will continue crying against them and they will have no peace in every area of their lives.

JNI well-done. Now we know we have leaders who can come out and tell the CAN leader and his cohorts to either speak good or keep their evils statements to them by unnecessary heating up the polity. Nigeria is greater than any individual.

Oibe, brother in Christ, remain blessed.JNI or whatever they called themselves, uncircumcised Ishmealites instigating problems here in our blessed Nigeria. Who is speaking and calling God's people? They should stand in responsibility of their acts and not calling the Christians for no Christian in whatsoever manner will embark on such a dastard act against the Christiandom.What injustice are they suffering in Nigeria? They have been ruling this country for over 40 years now, only but merely a year and now that a Christian and a southerner is ruling this country that causing all these tumults.If they don't want to stay with us, should leave us. Nigeria is for us and whoever that do not want to stay with us should go to whereever he/she or they want to belong.Islam, Boko Haram, JNI enough is enough.

JNI is just doing what you expect from a "good muslim" - TELL LIES TO DECEIVE YOU PERCEIVED ENEMY". They know the bombers but they need to tell lies to show that they are good muslims. Southerners should start raising their own army to defend them. These people (JNI) do not believe in peace.

It is very unfortunate that Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu can openly tell lies accusing Christians of disguising as Muslims to burn and killed people in the church and throughout the communique there is no where he mentioned where this happened. If perceived Islam scholar of his status can talk recklessly like this what do you expect from his followers? Nigerians have now known those who are given Boko Haram Members moral and financial support and cover to continue to attack Christians in the North. What Aliyu should know is that by "their action, utterances, deeds and template we shall know them" My advice to him is that he should not start a fight he cannot finish as his men are not the only one having monopoly of violence. Abubakar Aliyu should travel to Southern Nigeria and see how Muslims and Christians co exist and related, better still, if his conscience could not allowed to travel to southern Nigeria, he should learn from members of his society from the South. God or Allah will judge all those who are given moral and financial support to Boko Haram members who are killing, maiming people in the Northern States.

Why is it so difficult for the North to call for Sovereign National Conference or a Referendum? Why are they scared of being on their own? They should agree to form their own country and leave the Southerners alone, that is the only way peace could reign. They scared of a split because of just one thing....... RESOURCES of the SOUTH. Is it by force to be together? Nigeria should split up, that does not mean we would not assist them in anyway we can. The idea is to enslave the SOUTH make them weak and instill fear in them and exploit their resources. The tool used for this is BOKO HARAM.

The World is coming to an end, and every reasonable christian should think about the words spoken by Christ about end times. and think about this also:- "We are not fighting with flesh and blood, but with the principalities at the higher and lower levels" no any non-christian knows this, cuz they are part of the unforeseen powers.

jni is agent of evil and full of madness, it is boko haram. sss should jail all of them. they are the sponsors of boko haram. it is only a mad man that will say Christians disguise as Muslims to burn churches. all over the world they know the terrorist. all supporters of jni statements are mad and full of evil

I must confess that our type of islam practice in northern nigeria is quite different from the one practiced by prophet Mohammed peace be upon him.All we know in north we portray islam as a religion of violence rather than peaceful religion as preached by the prophet(SAW) Haba let us think twice..!!!!!

This is annoying to the Church of God and the majority of Nigerians. We thought we are one family in the pursuit of justice in Nigeria. What Boko Haram is doing to the nation is to divide it North and South. With this comment by JNI top men, it confirms that they too are in support of the division of the country. May your desire come to pass.

The issue of some people disguising as muslims and attempting to bomb churches is no longer a news it is a statement of facts with authentic evidences if you dispute that please sue the JNI to court i a m sure they will present all evidence. please nigerians let us be objective and not subjective in the way and manner we approach issues.

Can a muslim throw bomb at the mosque, JNI? STOP this folly. We Christians will begin to defend ourselves like the Jews to avoid the wiping us out as it what happened in the whole of north Africa few centuries ago.

Who told you that your are the majority in Nigeria? You people just cook up lies upon lies. We the Christians especially in the north are in total support of the CAN President and we can assure you that we will never tolerate or allow Islam or boko haram or whatever you call yourselves to dominate us... Enough is Enough

Why all these rubbish in here?! Why not let us focus on how to move ahead and stop trading blames? The CAN mouthpiece is right and wrong at the same time just like the JNI. Cases of what the JNI refered to as Christians disguising as Muslims are there and well spelt out in the near past events in our media. But that is not what should be that emphasized as done by the JNI. Though well guarded speeches should be made by our leaders be them CAN leaders or any other, because their words move a lot of members under them. I pray God almighty gives us the masses and the leaders as well the wisdom to make the best of contributions at our different levels towards helping in saving our dear nation. God bless Nigeria and Nigerians.

This must be delusional! Will a Christian bomb a church to advocate for the implementation of sharia rule? Does the same argument hold for the bombing in Parkistan, Afganistan, etc? Is the JNI secretary in his right mind? It's only in Nigeria that people get away with serious false statement. Jonathan must wake up and be bold!

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A BODY FOR THE MUSLIM, ISLAM WAS THERE IN NIGERIA AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE, THE SUNNIS HAVE BEEN IN NIGERIA, THE DARIKAS HAVE BEEN THERE, THE SHI'ITE ARE HERE AND THE EL-ZAKZAKIS ARE ALL AROUND, WHY IS IT THAT IT IS ALWAYS THE JNI WHO SPEAK FOR THE MUSLIM IN NIGERIA, I SUSPECT, THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE PRINCIPAL SPONSORS OF TERO IN NIGERIA AND THEY FEEL THE PAIN INSTEAD OF BRINGING THEIR BOYS TOGETHER, THEY WANT TO APPOSITION BLAMES ON RESPECTED LEADERS OF THE SOCIETY, WHEN A TERO MAN IS ARRESTED, THEY NOW SAID IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS RELIGION. HABA JNI BE REALISTIC.

One of the problems of this country Nigeria, is that most people know the truth and in pretence try to confuse others. It is very unfortunate. Look, Nigeria has grown passed this cheap blackmails from JNI. Play politice with human life is not in the best interest of any one, or religion.

Why will a christian bomb church when there are Masallachi's to bomb? so you guys cannot stop this you foolishness ba? who do you want to mislead? I am from the north, was born there, grew up there and still working there. the problem of this country is the north(the moslem north) and not north the christain north. they have the largest number of brainwashed fools that are ready to do what "MALLAM SAID" the northern christian have suffered alot in there hands, They killed our people, burn our churches and still acussed us of bombing our churches, kai JNI God will never forgive you for this and may what you are looking for by saying this return to your families. SHAME ON YOU.

from the comments being made, it is correct to say the average nigerian is neither educated nor exposed. if most of you were educated, you would look at the issue objectively. both muslims and christians alike are to blame for what is happening to nigeria. people who went through institutions of learning allowing themselves to be brainwashed by pastors who are after nothing but tithes and malams that have become contractors! come on! listen to yourselves, BLOODY ILLITERATES! Finally, i advise you all to read Bishop Mathew Kukah's article 'do not be afraid'

All comments depict our myopic views of current situations ,as JNI rightly mentioned there were cases which were comfirmed by no less person than matthew kukah . churches where i live in jos have comfirmed it .few recall that two years ago in calabar a ma drove a car into a plane shouting Jesus the redeemer so the accusations of bias i well grounded .but i agree with one of the post that the Muslims need to develop there own media but unfortunately in Islam even if you have you cannot be bised for any reason.. And my expirience shows that lack of education runs through all nigerian sections as we have functional illiterates as many online postings show

This is the most stupid allegation iv ever heard in my life. That a christian would disguise as a muslim to bomb churches. Meanwhile boko haram has made it clear that they want to islamise Nigeria, hence the bombing. Does it mean Christians too want to islamise Nigeria? Does it mean that nobody in the so-called JNI has sense?

the north taught they won the nigeria biafra war alone ,that is what is deceiving them. Now every body has seen the true enemy of nigeria which are some people in the north ,every state is fighting for a change but they are busy destroying the country.

This is a clear indication that JNI is Boko Haram and Boko Haram is JNI. The comment from the JNI shows that most religious leaders are corrupt even more than the so call politicians. With this statement credited to the JNI, we Nigerians are made to believe that they are the sponsors of the sects. This statement credited to the JNI is shameful and capable of causing disunity among christian and muslim in the country. They are far from being a patriotic nigerian

What do you expect from a kid who was caught with in hand in a jar? Stuttering, lies and misinformation. When it comes to violence, it is obvious whose stock in trade it is. No need for argument. Who ever told you that the Hausa man is not crafty? See how they are turning defence into attacks? See how they are putting their victims into a tight corner of defence? Stirring controversies takes the heat generated by the current arrests of their hit men off them. Nobody can be fooled. We knew long ago those orchestrating the bombings. I don't think that any of them bears any Christian name: Kabir Sokoto, Abu Qaqa, Bama etc. More are coming....

This is the doctrine of ' al-taquiyah' at work. Lie, decieve to gain advantage.What will you expect from a religion that that has the above as part of its doctrine. JNI are simply following the Islamic doctrin of 'al-taquiyah', lieing is all part of the jihad. They know it, but they dont know that others know too. So keep on lieing keeping, on killing in the name of jihad. 'He that draws the sword will perish by the sword' check that out in the Bible..for every word of it will be fulfilled. Just pity these men, they are cut in trap concoted in hell.

Well spoken AISHAT MUKHTAR, NASIRU & every rational person who has made statements that are constructive. Iam ashamed ofeveryone who has made statements that don't contribute positively to the growth & togetherness of Nigerians & Nigeria. There have been supposedly Christians caught by the security forces who were allegedly bombers. And these persons haven't be prosecuted, the question is why haven't they been prosecuted? where are these people now? Why shouldn't I suspect there's some conspiracy going on here by the people in authority. My take is that the monies voted for security in our next budget is close to N1trillion & these security people need some level of violence to continue in the country for them to be able to continue to steal our money. Last year it was about N500B or more & what was achieved with that colossal sum? The bombings have gone on unabated & there seems no end in sight. Well JNI's statements are just plain unfortunate & essentially diverting attention from the real issues. Whether the bombers are juju people or aliens from Pluto, the most important thing is that they are stopped because everybody is affected every dimension imaginable. Also if the CAN president is making unguarded statements, he must stop it because he has no right to do that because Nigeria, hey the world can not afford a major conflict in Nigeria. Where 160million people go hide when wahala bust? Ordinary Liberia, Ivory Coast, Somalia, Sudan the whole world together haven't been able to successfully solve the humanitarian crisis there. Wo if it happens here Nigerians would overrun the whole of Africa. The level of humanitarian crisis would be unprecedented in the history of man kind. Gbo gbo yin elo fun ara yin ni brain O!

I cannot think that any Christian can decend so low as to killing a human being in the name of religion. The Bible did not teach it and we don't practice it. What is the name of Boko Haram? Is it Boko Haram Christian sect? Have they ever killed in the name of Jesus? JNI, please call a spade a spade and stop fooling yourselves. Boko Haram might have just spoilt the name of islam for you, address them and stop diverting attention.

JNI, tell your lies to dogs, they will not even bark. There has never been a shameful communique on the crises in Nigeria as this shameless one. The only way to escape the blood of the innocent Islam has killed is to REPENT and embrace the free salvation that only Jesus offers. Instead of that these so called leaders of JNI trying very heard to divert attention from the shameful acts of Muslims in Nigeria in the name of Islam. I truly feel so sorry for them.

A religion founded on violence is laying claims to peace that has never been in them from inception. Is it a lie that the founder of islam fought 32 jihads in his lifetime? I am convinced the so called christians disguising as muslims to burn churches could be some jobless people sponsored by the same people sponsoring boko haram to create this false impression that christians are burning their own churches not the muslim sect. It is not in doubt that the average muslim in the north sees himself/herself as superior to other muslims from other parts of the country and considers the christian as sub-human, that informs their post-election violence when it was clear GEJ has won and will rule over them. My advice to them is to look inwards to cure themselves of this disease (religious fanaticism and illiteracy) first before attacking CAN president who only said christians should defend themselves from being killled by the terrorists.

Haba!!! This is a baseless statement from JNI.How can they make such as s statement that a right thinking Christian will disguise a s a muslim to go bomb Churches? Is Abdul Muttalab a Christian, was Biu Sokoto a Christian, They should state examples of Christians who did that for us to know. I remember in Jos where we have almajiris being given N500 to go burn Churches, are they Christains? Haba Idris why are you thinking in that direction? Lets call a spade a spade please, in as much as we want peace to reign in this country, we expect right thinking muslims to think right please

JNI are not thinking in a way of peaceful resolution, if not how many christains have been arrested with bomb recently? OK, lets face reality how many northern muslims are feeding security agents with information about boko haram that has cripled the economy of the north? how many of them had ever come out to condemn the activities of these recent pherohs. may God see us through

This is what illiteracy can cause,all the JNI are made up of street urchins (Almajiri) what will you expect when they think through their anus and with the little plate in their hand.Let them go ahead and encourage terrorism and lets see who will loose,what is the state of northern economy since the out break of bombing,how is development going,north will forever remain back ward in development because they don't have common sense.Tudun wadw in kaduna is a case study since the sharia crises.

Since 911, the anti-terrorism strategy is to cause commotion in Muslim dominated nations among Muslims or Muslims against others to divert their attention against the West which sees Islam as the source of terror. This explains the Shiite-Sunni conflict in Iraq and Pakistan. The Sunni-Sunni conflict in Somali, the Muslim-Muslim, Muslim-Christian conflicts in Sudan. These agents can buy naïve people to bomb churches then later others to bomb mosques as it may appear to be a retaliation in order to trigger a war of mutual destruction. In the end, neither the Christian nor the Muslims will come out a winner, only that the oil fields would be permanently occupied by foreign oil-thirsty nations. If Nigeria divides, they say it would break and shatter in pieces, neither the Yoruba nor the Igbos should ever dream of a drop of oil. So don’t be naïve and listen to the voice of peace and decorum. Boko Haram is an exaggerated phenomenon our security if seriously directed can squash out as their leaders was squashed. The issue is the hidden force that is using them to divide the polity.

This is the dumbest statement i have heard since the Boko Haram killings started. If a christian disguises as a muslim, he will attack a mosque. People talking like this are not educated and lack sense of judgement. There is nothing like a good unbeliever. The people who bombed St. Theresa Church in Madalla knew there were mostly christians of Igbo extraction in that church. It was just an extension of the Muslim hatred for the least islamised major ethnic group in Nigeria. No one has the monopoly to violence. Extremist christians too can attack mosques but our Lord taught us not to fight. However, enough is enough. The other jaw is no longer available for slaps.

The issue is beyond name calling or educational posturing. Does the northern albeit muslim elite endorse the arrest and trial of religious violence suspects in a court of law? Is this the position of Sultan of Sokoto? Until this question is answered and applied, dancing around words is counter-productive

I always say this, all these northerners are evil people, now they are trying to turn the truth of exactly what happened up side down. Now, they are blaming the christians that they started killing people.

JNL or whatever you claim to be ,You are sponsoring boko haram todestroy Nigeria,making it look like the present administration is weak.You are trying to divert attention from the problem you all started.Chritsians must not buy into this pretence.You talk about muslemsbeing peace lovers,do you know exactly what and how to live inpeace with fellow human biengs. Muslems don't understandthe word peace, they wont kill innocent people for few hundrednaira. JNL are not truthful we must not believe them. It is muslemswho disquise themselves as christians to commit these atrocities.SSS must continue to fish these criminals out and punish them accordingly

So they are now ashamed of all those killings ! JNI , are you now trying to fool Nigerians ? Are you trying to convince Nigerians that Kabiru Sokoto, Qaka , makau and all those members of Boko Haram, who actually claimed responsibilities for all those mass assasinations were christians in disguise ?

'On that day, many shall say Lord, have I not cast out DEMONS in you name? And he shall say onto them: depart from me, you evel doers, I new you not' ( a terrorist, rapists, liers,,prostitute,currupt people).please repent and follow the right part.

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